Regarding Li'an (Mutual Cursing)

Sahl bin Sa’ad Al Sa’idi said that ‘Uwaimir bin Ashqar Al Ajilani came to ‘Asim bin Adl and said to him “Asim tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you, or how should he act? Ask the Apostle of Allah ﷺ ‘Asim, for me about it. ‘Asim then asked the Apostle of Allah ﷺ about it. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ disliked the question and denounced it. What ‘Asim heard from the Apostle of Allah ﷺ fell heavy on him. When ‘Asim returned to his family ‘Uwaimr came to him and asked ‘Asim “What did the Apostle of Allah ﷺ say to you”? Asim replied “You did not do good to me”. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ disliked the question that I asked him. Thereupon ‘Uwaimir said “I swear by Allaah, I shall not leave until I ask him about it. So, ‘Uwaimir came to the Apostle of Allah ﷺ while he was sitting in the midst of the people.” He said “Apostle of Allah ﷺ tell me about a man who finds a man along with his wife. Should he kill him and then be killed by you, or how should he act?” The Apostle of Allah ﷺ said “A revelation has been sent down about you and your wife so go away and bring her. Sahl said “So we cursed one another while I was along with the people who were with the Apostle of Allah ﷺ. Then when they finished, ‘Umamir said “I shall have lied against her, Apostle of Allah ﷺ if I keep her. He pronounced her divorce three times before the Apostle of Allah ﷺcommanded him (to do so).

Ibn Shihab said “Then this became the method of invoking curses.”

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيَّ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عُوَيْمِرَ بْنَ أَشْقَرَ الْعَجْلاَنِيَّ جَاءَ إِلَى عَاصِمِ بْنِ عَدِيٍّ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عَاصِمُ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ سَلْ لِي يَا عَاصِمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ . فَسَأَلَ عَاصِمٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا حَتَّى كَبُرَ عَلَى عَاصِمٍ مَا سَمِعَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَاصِمٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ جَاءَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عَاصِمُ مَاذَا قَالَ لَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عَاصِمٌ لَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِخَيْرٍ قَدْ كَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَسْأَلَةَ الَّتِي سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْهَا . فَقَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَنْتَهِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْهَا . فَأَقْبَلَ عُوَيْمِرٌ حَتَّى أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ وَسَطَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " قَدْ أُنْزِلَ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ قُرْآنٌ فَاذْهَبْ فَأْتِ بِهَا " . قَالَ سَهْلٌ فَتَلاَعَنَا وَأَنَا مَعَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَا قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا . فَطَلَّقَهَا عُوَيْمِرٌ ثَلاَثًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ . قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ سُنَّةَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ .

‘Abbas bin Sahl reported on the authority of his father “The Prophet ﷺ said to ‘Asim bin ‘Adl. Keep the woman with you till she begets the child.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلَمَةَ - عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبَّاسُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لِعَاصِمِ بْنِ عَدِيٍّ " أَمْسِكِ الْمَرْأَةَ عِنْدَكَ حَتَّى تَلِدَ " .

Sahl bin Sa’d Al Sa’idi said “I attended the invoking of the curses with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when I was fifteen. He then narrated the rest of the tradition. In this version he said “She then came out pregnant and the child was ascribed to its mother.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ حَضَرْتُ لِعَانَهُمَا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَأَنَا ابْنُ خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ حَامِلاً فَكَانَ الْوَلَدُ يُدْعَى إِلَى أُمِّهِ .

Sahl bin Sa’ad reported the Apostle of Allah ﷺ as saying - in the tradition of spouses who invoked curses to each other “Look if she bears a child which has very black eyes, large buttocks, I cannot but imagine that he (i.e., ‘Uwaimir) has spoken the truth. But, if she bears a reddish child like the lizard with red spots (waharah), I cannot imagine that ‘Uwaimir has lied against her. She gave birth to a child (like that described the Prophet ﷺ ) in a detestable manner.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْوَرَكَانِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَعْدٍ - عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، فِي خَبَرِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " أَبْصِرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَدْعَجَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ عَظِيمَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ فَلاَ أُرَاهُ إِلاَّ قَدْ صَدَقَ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلاَ أُرَاهُ إِلاَّ كَاذِبًا " . قَالَ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الْمَكْرُوهِ .

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Sahl bin Sa’d Al Sa’idi through a different chain of narrators. This version adds the child was attributed to its mother.

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفِرْيَابِيُّ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، بِهَذَا الْخَبَرِ قَالَ فَكَانَ يُدْعَى - يَعْنِي الْوَلَدَ - لأُمِّهِ .

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Sahl bin Sa’d Al Sa’idi through a different chain of narrators. This version has “He divorced her three times before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ implemented it and what is done before the Prophet ﷺ is sunnah(model behavior of the Prophet).

Sahl said “I attended this before the Messenger of Allahﷺ. Afterwards the sunnah about those who invoked curses on each other was established that they (the spouses) were separated from each other and they would never be united.”

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عِيَاضِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْفِهْرِيِّ، وَغَيْرِهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، فِي هَذَا الْخَبَرِ قَالَ فَطَلَّقَهَا ثَلاَثَ تَطْلِيقَاتٍ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَنْفَذَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَكَانَ مَا صُنِعَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ سُنَّةً . قَالَ سَهْلٌ حَضَرْتُ هَذَا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَمَضَتِ السُّنَّةُ بَعْدُ فِي الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ أَنْ يُفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا ثُمَّ لاَ يَجْتَمِعَانِ أَبَدًا .

Sahl bin Sa’ad said “The version of Musaddad has “I witnessed the invoking of curses by the two spouses during the life time of the Apostle of Allah ﷺ when I was fifteen years old. When they finished invoking curses, the Apostle of Allah ﷺ separated them from each other. Here ends the version of Musaddad. Others said “He was present when the Prophet ﷺ separated the spouses who invoked curses on each other. The man (Sahl) said “I shall have lied against her, Apostle of Allah ﷺ if I keep her.

Abu Dawud said “Some narrators did not mention the word ‘alaiha(against her).”

Abu Dawud said “No one supported Ibn ‘Uyainah that he separated the spouses who invoked curses.”

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، وَوَهْبُ بْنُ بَيَانٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ، وَعَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ مُسَدَّدٌ قَالَ شَهِدْتُ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَنَا ابْنُ خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ تَلاَعَنَا . وَتَمَّ حَدِيثُ مُسَدَّدٍ . وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ إِنَّهُ شَهِدَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ كَذَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتُهَا - لَمْ يَقُلْ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَيْهَا - قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ لَمْ يُتَابِعِ ابْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَنَّهُ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ .

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Sahl bin Sa’d through a different chain of narrators. This version has “She was pregnant, he denied pregnancy from him. So her son was attributed to her. In the law of succession the practice (sunnah) was established that the son gets a share in the inheritance of his mother and the mother gets the share in the inheritance of her son according to the shares prescribed by Allah the Exalted.

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الْعَتَكِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَكَانَتْ حَامِلاً فَأَنْكَرَ حَمْلَهَا فَكَانَ ابْنُهَا يُدْعَى إِلَيْهَا ثُمَّ جَرَتِ السُّنَّةُ فِي الْمِيرَاثِ أَنْ يَرِثَهَا وَتَرِثَ مِنْهُ مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهَا .

‘Abd Allah (bin Mas’ud) said “We were in the mosque on the night of a Friday, suddenly a man from the Ansar entered the mosque”. And said “If a man finds a man along with wife and declares (about her adultery) you will flog him. Or if he kills you, you will kill him or if keeps silence he will keep silence in anger. I swear by Allaah, I shall ask the Apostle of Allah ﷺ about it”. On the next day he came to the Apostle of Allah ﷺ and said “If a man finds a man along with wife and declares (about her adultery) you will flog him. Or if he kills you, you will kill him or if keeps silence he will keep silence in anger.” He said “O Allaah, disclose”. He kept on praying until the verses regarding invoking curses (li’an) came down “As for those who accuse their wives but have no witnesses except themselves.” So, the man was first involved in this trial among the people. He and his wife came to the Apostle of Allah ﷺ. They invoked curses on each other. The man bore witness before Allah four times that the thing he said was indeed true. He then invoked curse of Allah on him for the fifth time if he was a liar. She then wanted to invoke curses of Allah on him. The Prophet ﷺ said “Do not do that. Bust she refused and did so (i.e., invoked curses). When they returned he said “Perhaps she will give birth to a black child with curly hair.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ إِنَّا لَلَيْلَةُ جُمْعَةٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً فَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ جَلَدْتُمُوهُ أَوْ قَتَلَ قَتَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى غَيْظٍ وَاللَّهِ لأَسْأَلَنَّ عَنْهُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ . فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً فَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ جَلَدْتُمُوهُ أَوْ قَتَلَ قَتَلْتُمُوهُ أَوْ سَكَتَ سَكَتَ عَلَى غَيْظٍ . فَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ " . وَجَعَلَ يَدْعُو فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ اللِّعَانِ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ } هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فَابْتُلِيَ بِهِ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ النَّاسِ فَجَاءَ هُوَ وَامْرَأَتُهُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَتَلاَعَنَا فَشَهِدَ الرَّجُلُ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ثُمَّ لَعَنَ الْخَامِسَةَ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ قَالَ فَذَهَبَتْ لِتَلْتَعِنَ فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ " مَهْ " . فَأَبَتْ فَفَعَلَتْ فَلَمَّا أَدْبَرَا قَالَ " لَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تَجِيءَ بِهِ أَسْوَدَ جَعْدًا " . فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْوَدَ جَعْدًا .

Ibn ‘Abbas said “Hilal bin Umayyah accused his wife in the presence of Prophet ﷺ of having committed adultery with Sharik bin Sahma’”. The Prophet ﷺ said “Produce evidence or you must receive punishment on your back.” He said “Apostle of Allah ﷺ when one of us sees a man having intercourse with his wife should he go and seek evidence?” But the Prophet ﷺ merely said “You must produce evidence or you must receive punishment on your back.” Hilal then said “By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I am speaking Truly. May Allah send down something which will free my back from punishment. Then the following Qur’anic verses were revealed “And those who make charges against their spouses but have no witnesses except themselves” reciting till he reached “one of those who speak the truth”. The Prophet ﷺ then returned and sent for them and they came (to him). Hilal bin Umayyah stood up and testified and the Prophet ﷺ was saying “Allaah knows that one of you is lying. Will one of you repent?” Then the woman got up and testified, but when she was about to do it a fifth time saying that Allaah’s anger be upon her if he was one of those who spoke the truth, they said to her “this is the deciding one”. Ibn ‘Abbas said “She then hesitated and drew back so that we thought the she would withdraw(what she said) “Look and see whether she gives birth to a child with eyes looking as if they have antimony in them, wide buttocks and fat legs, if she did. Sharik bin Sahma’ will be its father. She then gave birth to a child of a similar description. The Prophet ﷺ thereupon said “If it were not for what has already been stated in Allaah’s book I would have dealt severely with her.”

Abu Dawud said “This tradition has been transmitted by the people of Medina alone. They narrated the tradition of Hilal on the authority of Ibn Bashshar.”

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ، حَدَّثَنِي عِكْرِمَةُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ، قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ " الْبَيِّنَةَ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُنَا رَجُلاً عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ يَلْتَمِسُ الْبَيِّنَةَ فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ " الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ فَحَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ " . فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيًّا إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ وَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ فِي أَمْرِي مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ فَنَزَلَتْ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ } فَقَرَأَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ { مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ } فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَجَاءَا فَقَامَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ فَشَهِدَ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ " اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا مِنْ تَائِبٍ " . ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَقَالُوا لَهَا إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ . قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَصَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا سَتَرْجِعُ فَقَالَتْ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ . فَمَضَتْ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ " أَبْصِرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ " . فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ " لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَهَذَا مِمَّا تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ حَدِيثُ ابْنِ بَشَّارٍ حَدِيثُ هِلاَلٍ .

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

When the Prophet ﷺ ordered a man and his wife to invoke curses on each other, he ordered a man to put his hand on his mouth when he came to the fifth utterance, saying that it would be the deciding one.

حَدَّثَنَا مَخْلَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الشَّعِيرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ كُلَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَمَرَ رَجُلاً حِينَ أَمَرَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ أَنْ يَتَلاَعَنَا أَنْ يَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى فِيهِ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ .

Ibn ‘Abbas said “Hilal bin Umayyah was one of the three persons whose repentance was accepted by Allaah. One night he returned from his land and found a man along with his wife. He witnessed with his eyes and heard with his ears. He did not threaten him till the morning.” Next day he went to the Apostle of Allah ﷺ in the morning and said Apostle of Allah ﷺ “I came to my wife in the night and found a man along with her. I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ disliked what he described and he took it seriously. There upon the following Qur’anic verse came down “And those who make charges against their spouses but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them ....” When the Apostle of Allah ﷺ came to himself (after the revelation ended) he said “Glad tidings to you Hilal, Allah the exalted has made ease and a way out for you.” Hilal said “I expected that from my Lord. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ said “Send for her. She then came.” The Apostle of Allah ﷺ recited the verses to them and he reminded them and told them that the punishment in the next world was more severe than that in n this world. Hilal said “I swear by Allah I spoke the truth against her.” She said “He told a lie.” The Apostle of Allah ﷺ said “Apply the method of invoking curses on one another. Hilal was told “Bear witness. So he bore witness before Allah four times that he spoke the truth.” When he was about to utter the fifth time he was told “Hilal fear Allah, for the punishment in this world is easier than that in the next world and this is the deciding one, that will surely cause punishment to you.” He said “I swear by Allaah. Allah will not punish me for this (act), as He did not cause me to be flogged for this (act).” So he bore witness a fifth time invoking the curse of Allah on him if he was of those who tell a lie. Then the people said to her, Testify. So she gave testimony before Allah that he was a liar. When she was going to testify the fifth time she was told “Fear Allah, for the punishment in this world is easier than that in the next world. This is the deciding one that will surely cause punishment to you.” She hesitated for a moment. And then said “By Allah, I will not disgrace my people.” So she testified a fifth time invoking the curse of Allah on her if he spoke the truth. Apostle of Allah ﷺ separated them from each other and decided that the child will not be attributed to its father. Neither she nor her child will be accused of adultery. He who accuses her or her child will be liable to punishment. He also decided that there will be no dwelling and maintenance for her (from the husband) as they were separated without divorce and death. He then said “If she gives birth to a child with reddish hair, light buttocks, wide belly and light shins he will be the child of Hilal. If she bears a dusky child with curly hair, fat limbs, fat shins and fat buttocks he will be the child of the one who was accused of adultery. She gave birth to a child with curly hair, fat limbs, fat shins and fat buttocks. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ said “Had there been no oaths, I would have dealt with her severely.”

‘Ikrimah said “Later on he became the chief of the tribe of Mudar. He was not attributed to his father.”

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ هِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ وَهُوَ أَحَدُ الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَجَاءَ مِنْ أَرْضِهِ عَشِيًّا فَوَجَدَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِهِ رَجُلاً فَرَأَى بِعَيْنَيْهِ وَسَمِعَ بِأُذُنَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَهِجْهُ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ ثُمَّ غَدَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي جِئْتُ أَهْلِي عِشَاءً فَوَجَدْتُ عِنْدَهُمْ رَجُلاً فَرَأَيْتُ بِعَيْنِي وَسَمِعْتُ بِأُذُنِي فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ وَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ فَنَزَلَتْ { وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ } الآيَتَيْنِ كِلْتَيْهِمَا فَسُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ " أَبْشِرْ يَا هِلاَلُ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَكَ فَرَجًا وَمَخْرَجًا " . قَالَ هِلاَلٌ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو ذَلِكَ مِنْ رَبِّي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " أَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهَا " . فَجَاءَتْ فَتَلاَ عَلَيْهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَذَكَّرَهُمَا وَأَخْبَرَهُمَا أَنَّ عَذَابَ الآخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ مِنْ عَذَابِ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ صَدَقْتُ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ قَدْ كَذَبَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " لاَعِنُوا بَيْنَهُمَا " . فَقِيلَ لِهِلاَلٍ اشْهَدْ . فَشَهِدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ قِيلَ لَهُ يَا هِلاَلُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمُوجِبَةُ الَّتِي تُوجِبُ عَلَيْكَ الْعَذَابَ . فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يُعَذِّبُنِي اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا كَمَا لَمْ يَجْلِدْنِي عَلَيْهَا . فَشَهِدَ الْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ لَعْنَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهَا اشْهَدِي . فَشَهِدَتْ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ قِيلَ لَهَا اتَّقِي اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمُوجِبَةُ الَّتِي تُوجِبُ عَلَيْكِ الْعَذَابَ . فَتَلَكَّأَتْ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي فَشَهِدَتِ الْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ فَفَرَّقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَهُمَا وَقَضَى أَنْ لاَ يُدْعَى وَلَدُهَا لأَبٍ وَلاَ تُرْمَى وَلاَ يُرْمَى وَلَدُهَا وَمَنْ رَمَاهَا أَوْ رَمَى وَلَدَهَا فَعَلَيْهِ الْحَدُّ وَقَضَى أَنْ لاَ بَيْتَ لَهَا عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ قُوتَ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُمَا يَتَفَرَّقَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِ طَلاَقٍ وَلاَ مُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا وَقَالَ " إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُصَيْهِبَ أُرَيْصِحَ أُثَيْبِجَ حَمْشَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِهِلاَلٍ وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَوْرَقَ جَعْدًا جُمَالِيًّا خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِلَّذِي رُمِيَتْ بِهِ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ أَوْرَقَ جَعْدًا جُمَالِيًّا خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " لَوْلاَ الأَيْمَانُ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ " . قَالَ عِكْرِمَةُ فَكَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَمِيرًا عَلَى مُضَرَ وَمَا يُدْعَى لأَبٍ .

Ibn ‘Umar said “The Apostle of Allah ﷺ said to the spouses who invoked curses on each other. Your reckoning is in Allaah’s hands for one of you is liar there is no way for you to (remarry) her. He then asked Apostle of Allah ﷺ what about my property? He replied “There is no property for you. If you have spoken the truth, it is the price for your having had the right to intercourse with her and if you have lied against her it is still more remote for you.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعَ عَمْرٌو، سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِلْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ " حِسَابُكُمَا عَلَى اللَّهِ أَحَدُكُمَا كَاذِبٌ لاَ سَبِيلَ لَكَ عَلَيْهَا " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَالِي . قَالَ " لاَ مَالَ لَكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَدَقْتَ عَلَيْهَا فَهُوَ بِمَا اسْتَحْلَلْتَ مِنْ فَرْجِهَا وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَذَبْتَ عَلَيْهَا فَذَلِكَ أَبْعَدُ لَكَ " .

Sa’d bin Jubair said I asked Ibn ‘Umar A man accused his wife of adultery? He said “The Apostle of Allah ﷺ separated the brother and the sister of Banu Al ‘Ajilan (i.e., husband and wife). He said Allah knows that one of you is a liar, will one of you repent? He repeated these words three times, but they refused. So he separated them from each other.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عُمَرَ رَجُلٌ قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ . قَالَ فَرَّقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَ أَخَوَىْ بَنِي الْعَجْلاَنِ وَقَالَ " اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ . فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ " . يُرَدِّدُهَا ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَأَبَيَا فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا .